KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s time for an annual ritual: The 10 most intriguing people in this year’s World Series.

I usually start this by explaining this is constructed unapologetically through a New York prism, but this year? There isn’t much of a New York influence at all, besides the ex-Yankees contingent that runs the Giants (GM Brian Sabean, his lieutenant Dick Tidrow and coaches Roberto Kelly, Hensley Meulens and Dave Righetti) and a few other random people (Raul Ibanez and Travis Ishikawa).

So here we go:

1. Lorenzo Cain

If there isn’t much of a New York bias in this year’s list, I’m still naturally bringing my own biases to the table. And after getting the opportunity to write a feature on Cain, the Royals’ center fielder/right fielder, I want to see more of him. He’s No. 1 because, my goodness, what a backstory. The guy tried baseball at age 16 only because he didn’t make his freshman basketball team, which leads you to believe he couldn’t have been very proficient at any sport at that time.

And he’s No. 1 because, given his skill set and what we’ve seen from him in the first three rounds of the postseason, he’s most likely to produce a highlight play for the ages and join the likes of Tommie Agee, Ron Swoboda and Dwight Evans on the “Legendary World Series Outfield Catch” list.

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2. Madison Bumgarner

Bumgarner has been the best starting pitcher in these playoffs. That he appears so laid back, both on the mound and in press conferences, makes him all the more intriguing. He can arguably elevate his status more than any other player with a great series.

3. Ned Yost

The Royals manager, a baseball lifer, is stepping up his game as the national exposure increases. In Monday’s news conference, he told a very funny story about getting Vida Blue’s autograph at the Oakland Coliseum when he was a teenager; Blue autographed a dollar bill, and then Yost used the dollar to buy a hot dog. Kudos to Yost, because normally he’s as cheerful as the “She moved out” guy from “Fletch.”

He began these playoffs regarded as the worst of the managers, and now, it’s down to him and the Giants’ knighted Bruce Bochy. Can Yost carry his validation all the way through?

Yup, we’re cheating some here. After all, these are three distinct people for just one entry. But if you’ve watched the Royals’ postseason run, you know why these three guys go together. They comprise the dominant relief trio Yost has deployed to enable the Royals to go 8-0 this postseason. Through the American League Championship Series, these three right-handers have teamed to allow three runs, nine walks and 30 strikeouts — good for a 1.05 ERA — in 25 2/3 innings pitched. Can they maintain this sublime performance for one more week?

6. Tim Hudson

Tim Hudson will pitch in the World Series for the first time.EPA

Do you know how many pitchers can say they pitched in the majors in both 1999 and 2014? The answer is nine: A.J. Burnett, Bruce Chen, Bartolo Colon, Kyle Farnsworth, LaTroy Hawkins, Tim Hudson, Joe Nathan, Randy Wolf and Jamey Wright. Most of those guys are either done or very close to the end, whereas this is Hudson’s time to shine, even if, at age 39, he isn’t what he once was. It took a seventh trip to the postseason — the first four were with Oakland, the next two with Atlanta — for Hudson, whose career accomplishments should prompt at least a discussion about his Hall of Fame worthiness, to finally advance to the World Series. The key naturally was for him to sign with the Giants for an even-numbered year. He is scheduled to start Game 3 Friday night at AT&T Park.

7. George Brett

Imagine if Tom Seaver attended 75 percent of the Mets’ home games and still lived and died with each day’s result as much as he did when he pitched. Imagine if Derek Jeter, instead of publicly looking forward to life as a recluse, shifted right over to a consulting role with the Yankees and regularly offered counsel to the team’s front office, manager and players.

Those fantasies serve as reality here in Kansas City, where iconic player Brett owns a title – vice president of baseball operations – that belies his true role with the club. He’s far more of an adviser and a cheerleader than an administrator, and he’s always happy to promote his beloved team. He’s hoping to see the Royals get their first title since his 1985 squad — as you know, the club didn’t even qualify for the postseason between then and now — and you can bet the Fox cameras will be aware of his whereabouts at all times.

George Brett, Ned YostAP

8. Joe Torre

Odd, isn’t it, how the first year of expanded instant replay produced so much acrimony during the regular season and such little noise so far here in the postseason? Baseball folks are hoping it continues and concludes that way, with Bud Selig overseeing his final World Series as commissioner and Rob Manfred his first as commissioner-elect. But if it doesn’t, if there’s a close call in which the replay officials back in New York either overturn a good call or uphold a bad one? Then it’ll fall on the never-nervous Torre, baseball’s executive vice president of baseball operations, to explain to the public what went down.

9. James Shields

He’s the lesser of two aces as the Series kicks off, and he told The Kansas City Star that he passed a kidney stone during the AL Championship Series. Yeesh. But Shields is the survivor of the AL free-agent pitcher derby that began with Shields, Jon Lester and Max Scherzer all auditioning for this winter. Shields won’t get as much money as either Lester or Scherzer, yet he can make himself a lot more by pitching well against the Giants. He already has scored huge in the personality department after embracing the challenge of being traded to Kansas City (from the Rays, in December 2010) and helping to change the Royals’ team culture.

10. Pablo Sandoval

Like Shields, he’s an impending free agent. For now, though, the “Kung Fu Panda” doesn’t want to discuss it. When I asked him about his future during Monday’s Media Day, he just pointed to the “SF” on his cap, indicating his focus on the present. Well played. Speaking of well played, Sandoval already has a World Series Most Valuable Player trophy from 2012. Can he duplicate that success?